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Over ten years ago, the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code replaced the old BC Code to enhance safety protocols involving shipment and stowage of solid bulk cargoes. In addition to providing detailed information about shipping dangerous solid bulk cargoes, the IMSBC further offers guidelines on complying with procedures that should be utilized before shipping certain solid bulk cargoes.
The guide to IMSBC Code is an essential handbook for mariners, captains, ship navigators and government agencies. Knowing critical information regarding standards for shipping all types of solid bulk cargoes (with the exception of grain) ensures hazardous cargoes are accurately identified and handled with rigorous safety compliance practices.
Changes to IMSBC Code include revised individual provisions for solid bulk cargoes, new standards for shipping sulfur and references to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) amendments.
Standards established by the CSS Code deal with the unpredictable vertical, transverse and longitudinal accelerations acting on cargo ships in seaways. Hazardous conditions emerging from these forces demand the practice of rigorous and compliant protocols that ensure reliable securing and stowage of onboard cargoes. When solid cargoes are properly anchored according to material composition, this can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of undesirable ship movement.
The Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code) manual includes the following critical points:
All individuals tasked with securing and stowing solid cargoes should be highly qualified, knowledgeable about the CSS Code and duly experienced with complying with performance protocols.
When determining how to secure and stow solid bulk cargoes, personnel must consider the
expectation of severe weather occurring during the voyage. Cargo stowage should meet or exceed the demands of potentially dangerous weather.
When encountering extreme weather, ship captains and navigation crew should always consider the type of cargo being hauled and how it has been secured when making decisions about how to handle their vessel.
The IMDG Code was originally developed to help stop sea pollution caused by unsecured or improperly stowed, hazardous solid bulk cargoes.
The IMDG Code is a uniform code applicable to global ships assigned to transport all types of cargo. Updated every two years, the IMDG Code committee members allow amendments agreed upon to remain valid for no longer than three years. In most cases, amendments are permitted to overlap so the maritime industry has enough time to enact adjustments necessary for complying with amendments.
Fundamental principles of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods IMDG Code include:
Accurately classifying solid cargoes based on dangers they may cause during transportation
Ensuring dangerous cargoes are kept in receptacles that meet or exceed the demand for the strength necessary to prevent goods from escaping their receptacles
Labeling cargoes with appropriate warning labels identifying the cargo as hazardous
Assigning standardized documentation to all dangerous goods that can be provided while goods are being transported
New editions of the IMDG Code are published biannually. They contain recently adopted amendments and details regarding compliance protocols for these amendments.


Mountain lakes are affected by anthropogenic use and global change, which necessitates management strategies to ensure their conservation and provision of ecosystem services (ES). However, research on ES of mountain lakes is scarce and related stakeholder perspectives remain unexplored. This study identifies key ES of mountain lakes and explores how stakeholders perceive the importance of these ES and their contributions to human well-being. A mixed-methods approach based on socio-cultural valuation methods was adopted consulting diverse stakeholders from governmental, economic, research, and public sectors in South Tyrol (Italy) in the Central European Alps. The results indicate that the highest importance was attributed to the ES maintaining habitats as well as aesthetic value, followed by surface water, outdoor recreation, and representation & entertainment. Stakeholders’ perspectives on these ES were multi-faceted covering diverse benefits, senses of place as well as notions of care and stewardship, but also negative perceptions and trade-offs related to cultural ES emerged. We discuss these findings outlining implications for research and practice. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of participatory and socio-cultural assessment approaches to foster context-specific ES understanding and presents a first step towards the integrative assessment of mountain lakes.


Services
Regular oral examinations and hygiene cleanings at Brandon Dental Centre can help you prevent any dental issues and keep your smile healthy.
Routine oral exams, ideally twice a year, give your dentist the opportunity to identify any oral health issues and develop a plan to treat them accordingly.
During your exam, your dentist will take a close look at the health of your teeth, bite, jaws and gums. Exams may also include dental x-rays.
After the examination phase, your dentist will start the treatments with a professional cleaning of your teeth.
To keep your smile clean and bright between dental appointments, be sure to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, and floss at least once a day.
Your dental hygienist will perform a deep cleaning of your teeth and gums to prevent and treat gum disease.
To start, a scaler will be used to remove any tartar and plaque build-up. Next they will use a polisher and coarse toothpaste to remove any leftover stains or plaque, followed by a thorough flossing of your teeth and gums.
If you or your child is at high risk of tooth decay, your dentist may also recommend a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a natural mineral that can help to repair the minerals in your tooth enamel to prevent or heal tooth decay.
Looking for a dentist in Brandon? We're happily accepting new patients at our dental clinic! Contact us to get started.


A slimmer and shapely body is a common dream men and women share, each dissatisfied by stubborn fat that refuses to leave. Even diet and vigorous exercise do not sometimes work, especially in problem areas like the stomach, causing people to lose self-confidence and become body-conscious.
Fortunately, modern medicine has enabled professionals to administer highly effective treatments, such as coolsculpting, that can efficiently address weight-related issues in isolated body areas. The fat-freezing technique FDA-approved back in 2010 is still among the most sought-after aesthetic procedures worldwide.
Those considering the treatment for the first time can refer to the following unbeatable reasons.
Targeted Reduction
People cannot choose which parts of the body store stubborn fat, making it impossible for them to rid the area of the unwanted weight even with intense workouts. That’s because everyone has different body properties and dispositions, leading to various problem areas. For instance, it may be the abdomen for some, while the thighs or chin for others.
Fat-freezing works because it can accurately target problem areas, with the applicator sending intense cooling into the skin precisely from the surface. The cold effectively destroys enough fat cells in the area, causing your body to clear them away in the following weeks, making the region slimmer.
Money Saving and Fewer Risks
While many might contend that alternatives like liposuction can do the same, they forget that invasive procedures like these come with skyrocketing costs that not everyone can afford. Invariably, fat-freezing has become an integral part of the ever-growing cosmetic industry, allowing even those with limited budgets to enjoy a slimmer physique.
Also, it carries fewer risks than surgical procedures wherein people undergo a knife where there is bleeding and anesthesia involved. At the most, there is a redness in the target region, and some patients may experience a slight numbness. However, these are expected minor effects that quickly fade away, with the treatment involving minimal downtime.
Effective and Versatile
One look at before-and-after pictures of those who have undergone the procedure will show you it works. Also, the results should typically last permanently since the human body naturally dispels the destroyed fat cells via waste. But if you gain weight post-treatment, the region might store fat again. Therefore, it is still recommended that people follow a healthy diet and exercise routine in addition to the procedure.
Also, it is exceptionally versatile, enabling professionals to target diverse problem areas such as the back, under the arms, the abdomen, inner and outer thighs, side flanks, and much more. The number of freeze sessions will differ depending on the target area.
Must See: Best Exercises To Lose Belly Fat Performed by Experts
Coolsculpting is not something that just anyone can do, requiring qualified experts to perform the procedure. Invariably, you need not worry about the risks of side effects when getting the remedy from a certified and experienced industry expert.
So, look for a trustworthy facility with years of experienced and qualified professionals offering a wide range of aesthetic medicine besides fat-freezing procedures, allowing you to get more things done at an affordable price. Read their reviews online and scan the picture gallery for an idea of the results for the remedy you seek.
Finally, you can call them for more details, enabling you to gauge if they are a perfect fit for your needs.


In a Fortune feature on hiring new talent, 49% of respondents claimed that it was the salary that was the leading factor in accepting a job offer. Hiring practices now focus on salaries or bonus schemes to attract better-trained IT individuals. In today’s hiring crisis, competition for talent is prevalent. Skilled IT workers are...
Outsourcing Talent acquisition is a wise business strategy with numerous advantages. This type of recruiting, also known as Recruitment Process Outsourcing, occurs when outside experts are hired to manage a company's recruiting function, from the people and process to the technology platform and strategy. The goal is to improve hiring performance in five areas, specifically...


April 28 marks National Day of Mourning
Health & Safety ccohs Day of Mourning
CCOHS urges business to renew commitment to worker safety
April 28, 2021 is the National Day of Mourning and workplaces across Canada will use this day to remember those who have lost their lives or suffered an injury or illness due to their work.
On this day, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is reminding all workplaces that the Day of Mourning is also a day to renew commitment to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all workers, especially those who have been personally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Traditionally, employers, unions and workers have observed the National Day of Mourning by lighting candles, laying wreaths, or wearing commemorative pins, ribbons, or black armbands.
This year, CCOHS encourages everyone to pause for a moment of silence at 11:00 a.m., and in respect of physical distancing measures, consider holding, attending, or supporting a virtual event.
To help workplaces commemorate the day and spread awareness, CCOHS has several resources available that can be used in virtual programs:
Listen to CCOHS podcast interviews with Threads of Life speakers to hear how they were personally affected by workplace tragedies. Show your support and help raise awareness of this day by sharing CCOHS’ Day of Mourning social media cards and tagging your posts with #dayofmourning. Download CCOHS’ collection of Day of Mourning posters to promote the significance this day holds.
Information about the National Day of Mourning along with the collection of shareable social media cards, free posters, and podcast episodes can be found on the CCOHS website: www.ccohs.ca/events/mourning.
Day of Mourning facts The most recent statistics from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) tell us that in 2019, 925 workplace fatalities were recorded in Canada. This is a small decrease from the previous year; 95 per cent of the fatalities were male workers. The fatalities included 29 young workers aged 15 to 24. There were also 271,806 accepted claims (an increase from 264,438 the previous year) for lost time due to a work-related injury or disease, including 33,615 from workers aged 15-24. As these statistics include only what is reported and accepted by the compensation boards, the total number of workers impacted is likely greater. In 1991, eight years after the day of remembrance was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Parliament of Canada passed the Workers Mourning Day Actmaking April 28 an official Day of Mourning.


In my early twenties I worked in the entertainment division of the top public relations firm in Manhattan. The days were long, the nights star-studded and the environment the most toxic I’ve ever experienced. I was in a group of eight account executives and assistants overseen by the son of the firm’s founder. The father had little respect for the son, and the son had little respect for us. He belittled, reduced to tears, and fired people on a regular basis.
Feeling that nothing we did was right or appreciated, we lacked motivation and spent more energy looking for new jobs than performing well in the ones we had. The core of the problem was that none of us felt confident, connected or supported in our efforts. We lacked a “secure base,” what experts define as a key ingredient for professional excellence and performance.
The idea of a secure base comes from the work of John Bowlby, a revolutionary British psychoanalyst who recognized that the critical component to a child’s wellbeing lies in a healthy attachment to his or her parents. He (correctly) hypothesized that when parents behave empathically and respond to a child’s needs, the child builds a sense of (emotional) security that allows him to flourish.
Today, psychologist George Kohlrieser, an internationally recognized expert on leadership, applies the same theory to the professional arena. In an interview with Daniel Goleman, Kohlrieser asserted, “Secure bases are sources of protection, energy and comfort, allowing us to free our own energy.” When we feel this way at work, Kohlrieser suggests, we increase our ability to focus, overcome obstacles, explore, innovate, play, take risks and achieve goals. In short, having a secure base at work opens greater opportunities for success.
How to stay motivated by creating your own secure base
In the public relations firm where I worked, there was no secure-base leadership philosophy. In the trenches, however, we tried to subtly create connections and support that allowed each of us to make it through the day.
If any of this sounds similar to your current situation, then discovering how to stay motivated and proactively create your own secure base will be key to your success. The following secure base self-test (modeled on ideas introduced in Goleman’s
Social Intelligence) offers a way to assess your experience. Respond to the following statements with True or False.
1. You feel appreciated, acknowledged and respected for your contribution(s) at work.
2. Your boss consistently actively listens, provides helpful feedback and provides useful guidance.
3. When there’s a problem in the office, everyone works as a team to resolve it.
4. You have a best friend at work.
5. You often feel calm throughout the work
6. You have more positive vs negative moments at work.
7. You feel confident, playful, able to take risks and innovative in your position.
8. The emotional tone of your office is healthy and motivational.
9. The attitude of the company you work for is collaborative, human and supportive.
10. Your company/office/team/co-workers feel like family.
Scoring:
1–3 True: Recognizing office toxicity is the first step to making change. Take a look at the questions to which you replied False; identify which areas, if improved, would allow you to feel a little better. Choose the one that feels most important and brainstorm what would have to happen to create better outcomes and implement a strategy to achieve them.
4–7 True: In the mid-range of a secure base lies an opportunity to build on your internal security by expanding your external connections. Share one or all of the answers you marked False with co-workers (including your boss, if that feels comfortable) and suggest that you work together to create a more positive environment by addressing these areas.
8–10 True: At the high end of the range, you have the opportunity to lead your office in creating an even more secure, supportive and successful environment. Challenge yourself to survey your office and identify where you feel you could introduce a fresh concept to elevate the already established secure base to an even higher level.
Less than a year after joining that public relations firm, I jumped ship to a smaller shop with a collaborative environment. There I flourished developing contacts, wonderful relationships with clients and co-workers and work that I enjoyed. Motivation is our reason(s) for behaving in a certain way. The more appreciated, supported and safe we feel at work, the more we
want to work and perform well. Ultimately, I launched my own business and did so with a secure-base philosophy in mind. I love coming to work now, and so do my colleagues. For us, work seems like play—and that’s the best motivation of all.


Reaching the remaining uninsured may be difficult due to lack of Medicaid expansion on the state level
FRIDAY, May 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Uninsurance rates have decreased since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but reaching the remaining uninsured may prove challenging, according to a health policy brief published online May 23 in
Health Affairs.
Sarah Goodell examined how uninsurance rates are changing under the ACA. Data were reviewed from multiple sources, including the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
Goodell notes that uninsurance rates decreased from 2013 to 2014. Early release of NHIS data seem promising, with 10.5 percent of the nonelderly population uninsured in 2015. Based on Gallup data, since 2010, an estimated 20 million adults have gained insurance coverage. Despite the increased penalty in 2016 for not having insurance, it may be hard to enroll the remaining uninsured adults. A significant number of the remaining nonelderly uninsured people are likely to be ineligible for Medicaid or subsidized plans. Many states with the largest number of uninsured have expressed no intention to expand Medicaid.
“While improved outreach is crucial to reaching uninsured people who are eligible for Medicaid or subsidized Marketplace insurance but have not yet taken up coverage, continued progress in reducing the ranks of the uninsured will also depend on federal and state policy changes that expand the number of people who are eligible for assistance and ensure that assistance is sufficient to make coverage affordable,” Goodell writes.
Copyright © 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


Did it Bite?
If there is any chance that a bat or any wild animal may have bitten someone in your household, you should contact your public health agency. If you have a bat in your house and are unsure if it has bitten someone, it should be captured if possible, and your public health agency should be called. If you are confident that it hasn’t had any human contact, it can be released to the outdoors. It is extremely rare that bats will bite a person. If bats are displaying aggressive behavior, such as biting, they may have rabies.


Under the revised European Climate Law, the EU has set an unambitious 2030 climate target. In a recent article, Mark Preston Aragonès, Policy Advisor at Bellona Europa, said despite this, the European Climate Law is a good start for a healthy debate on negative emissions.
Separating removals from reductions could buy time for the EU to develop carbon dioxide removal approaches and establish a robust governance framework to monitor and verify removal projects reliably.
Without this governance, the risk of delaying emission reductions would have been compounded by the lack of guarantees that any carbon we remove on paper is removed in reality.
Mark Preston Aragonès
Policy Advisor, Bellona Europa
Frances Wang
Senior Associate


Aave is a notable blockchain name in the field of decentralized finance, which has gained traction in 2021 and 2022. It is an open-source protocol for non-custodial lending and borrowing of crypto. Lenders can earn interest on their deposits, and borrowers can use cryptocurrencies as collateral to borrow a variety of altcoins and stablecoins.
Let’s take a better look at the lending protocol and AAVE token below.
The concept behind Aave
Aave is most accurately described as a network of loan pools. Participants place funds they are looking to lend into a liquidity pool. Then, while obtaining a loan, borrowers may draw from these pools. The lender may trade or transfer these tokens as they see fit.
Aave issues two types of tokens to support this process:
aTokens, which are provided to lenders so that they can collect interest on deposits AAVE tokens, which are Aave’s native tokens
This cryptocurrency also offers its holders a variety of benefits. AAVE borrowers who obtain loans denominated in the token, for instance, are not charged a fee.
AAVE owners who pay a fee in AAVE can view loans before they are made available to the general public. Additionally, borrowers with AAVE as collateral can borrow slightly more.
Aave’s use case
While it’s not hard to understand what Aave is, it’s used for much more than basic lending and borrowing. At its most fundamental level, Aave software facilitates the creation of loan pools. The lending pools allow users to borrow or lend nearly 17 cryptocurrencies, such as Ether, Brave Attention Token, and MANA.
Similar to numerous other Ethereum bot lending platforms, Aave requires borrowers to provide collateral before receiving a loan.
Additionally, it is vital to understand that borrowers can obtain a loan up to the value of the collateral they submit.
The lending protocol
Traditionally, in order to obtain a loan, you would need to visit a bank or other financial institution and get approved. In exchange for the loan, the bank will require collateral. You then make monthly principal and interest payments to the bank.
DeFi is different. There is no financial institution; instead, there are smart contracts that do all the hard work. These contracts are computer instructions that automate transactions, such as selling if the price of a token hits a specific level.
DeFi eliminates intermediaries in asset transactions, futures contracts, and savings accounts. This implies that you can borrow cryptocurrency from individuals rather than financial institutions. However, you are still required to provide collateral.
In a DeFi system that attempts to be fiat-free, this means dealing with tokens of other cryptocurrencies.
Aave and its roots
The second essential component for comprehending AAVE is the history of the DeFi protocol. Aave is a for-profit enterprise that was founded in 2017. Stani Kulechov established the Aave protocol in 2017. Initially known as ETHLend, the company launched its first initial coin offering (ICO) in 2017 and raised almost $16.2 million.
During this time, the system sold about one billion units of its native cryptocurrency, known as LEND, in its early phases. Subsequently, the Aave team retained the remaining 300 million Aave tokens.
ETHLend was significantly different from Aave in that it did not emphasize the pooling of funds. In contrast, it varied from conventional Aave instances found today and emphasized peer-to-peer matching of lenders and borrowers.
In 2018, the Aave protocol received its name, and the term “Aave” caught the DeFi world by storm.
Flash loans
Aave is distinctive in that it offers instant, collateral-free loans via flash loans, a form of credit primarily designed for software developers.
Under the terms of a flash loan, the principal amount must be repaid in a single Ethereum transaction. The transaction is reversed if the loan is not returned to the pool on time. This ensures the security of the reserve pool’s funds, and no one takes a risk.
The code safeguards the payback mechanism regardless of its intended use, thereby contributing to the system’s overall security. This function also enables users to borrow and lend money without the need for a third party.
Aave and ETH merge
Aave’s DAO has passed a proposal to continue running on Ethereum’s improved proof-of-stake platform. It proposed not implementing any Ethereum forks from other groups that would arise from The Merge, including a hypothetical proof-of-work (POW) split.
Conclusion
Aave is continually expanding its DeFi ecosystem. The Aave community approved a proposal to deploy GHO, the network’s own stablecoin, in July 2022.
The plan to establish GHO as an overcollateralized stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar and backed by a diversified set of crypto-assets was supported by 99.9% of voters.
So, if you were looking for an interesting crypto investment opportunity, definitely consider Aave.


The mentally ill are increasingly interacting with every level of the criminal justice system, even though this system was never designed to function in this role.
In this series, I cover several places and ways that the mentally ill encounter the legal system, starting with Part I: Law Enforcement & Incarceration
Deinstitutionalization failed to deliver on promises to free the mentally ill from needless hospitalization. The lack of adequate planning, funding and availability of community resources led to many outgoing patients becoming homeless and/or incarcerated. Over time, the mentally ill have been interacting with the legal system at all levels at increasing rates. This has created strains on the legal system and poor outcomes for the mentally ill.


Self-storage facilities offer long-term and short-term storage alternatives for your personal, office, and company belongings. You can use self-storage units to safeguard your valuables, such as moving to a new city, an entrepreneur in need of a place to store goods, a new homeowner awaiting the completion of their home project, or a college student safekeeping your stuff for the summer vacation.
Whether you need to store your valuables temporarily while moving or long-term after closing down, renting a storage facility is a viable, space-saving alternative. Storage facilities provide a safe, convenient, and easily accessible choice for people who needs storage. These long-term storage facilities also have various unit sizes and services to match your needs.
Whatever your need for a long-term storage unit, you have several options available. In fact, there are numerous storage facilities close to your property. If you are unsure how to select the best storage unit for your long-term storage needs, here are essential factors to consider when choosing a long-term storage unit.
Unit Sizes
The first thing you should consider when selecting a storage unit to rent is how much space you’ll require. A storage vault may suffice for a single bag or box of essential documents. These are far less expensive and are housed in a safe storage facility. However, if you plan to store furniture or large items, it is ideal to rent a bigger unit. Make it a point to inspect the storage unit you intend to rent before making a deposit. You should ensure that the structure and size are appropriate for your purposes.
Location
You should also ensure that your storage facility is close to your home or workplace. A facility is useless if you have to drive for hours to get there. Choose a location where you can drop by any time to get items from your unit, especially for long-term storage, where you might store furniture and other valuables. It is also essential to inspect the facility at least every two weeks. By checking on schedule, you can identify potential issues, such as moisture absorption, before they cause damage to your valuables.
Consider If You Need Climate Control Storage Units
Another thing you should consider when selecting a self-storage unit is whether you necessitate climate control. Indoor climate-controlled units feature a controlled temperature and humidity level. It keeps moisture from destroying your most valuable possessions, like sculptures, wood antiques, or paperwork. Consider the fact that climate-controlled storage facilities will be more pricey. However, you can ensure that your items are secured and protected without your supervision.
Safety and Security Features
Choose storage space that provides high-level safety surrounding the property and individual facilities. Ensure your belongings are protected with these security protocols:
There is available all-day video surveillance. There is enough lighting. There are available alarms for every unit. Passcode entrance barriers. Fencing around the perimeter. Door locks with steel discs.
Check the property on a regular basis and verify the solutions taken if an issue arises. Confirm that emergency professionals are alerted when an alarm is triggered to ensure that any potential dangers are addressed.
Access Times
Consider when you will access your storage facility, depending on what you are storing. Many storage facilities are available 24 hours a day which is perfect if you have essential business paperwork or inventory that you may require at any time. Others are only available during standard hours of operation. Remember that you’ll want to know when the office will be open. You may have constant access to your unit, but there might be an average delay between those hours and when you can communicate with a company employee.
Visit the storage facility in-person to confirm they have adequate security precautions, connect with staff members, and clarify your storage requirements. There is no one-size-fits-all storage solution. Everyone requires extra storage capacity for various reasons and can gain from the options available.


Online privacy and security are common issues for many internet users. While security refers to protecting your data, privacy involves preventing others from tracking your movements. It also includes limiting the personal information accessed for surveillance or marketing purposes.
9 Ways to Increase Your Privacy on the Web
Now that you understand what online privacy involves, you should learn how to enhance it. Here are some practical tips.
Review Your Social Privacy Settings
Your social media accounts may contain a lot of details about you. If you don’t restrict privacy, most people can access this information. Check your social media privacy settings to determine the elements you want to share with the public or your friends.
Protect Your Email and Phone Number
Hackers with access to your email can send spam messages and breach your privacy. In other cases, spammers might send numerous robocalls to your phone. While you can’t entirely escape sharing your contact information, you can control the parties accessing it.
Avoid sharing your email and phone number with websites and online stores. However, if this information is crucial for transactions and communication, have separate and disposable alternatives.
Avoid Using Public Storages for Private Information
Online services like Dropbox and Google Docs can provide a reliable data backup solution. However, if you share some folders or send links to others, it’s advisable to avoid storing private information on such apps. This is unless you have an encrypted archive that only you can access.
Use Proxy Servers
Proxy servers provide extra data security and privacy by acting as intermediaries between your device and web servers. They can also mask your IP address with another so that other computers don’t identify you or track your online activities.
Proxy servers have different configurations allowing you to leverage them for numerous uses. Some common types of proxies are:
Forward proxies Public proxies Residential proxies Shared proxies Anonymous proxies Transparent proxies High anonymity proxies Distorting proxies
Using proxies will allow you to browse the web without worrying about privacy. Moreover, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks.
Be Careful About Internet Sharing
Selling your bandwidth online can help you make extra money. Still, hackers may steal personal information or eavesdrop on your traffic. If you want to earn while protecting your privacy online, use secure and reliable solutions like Pawns.app to sell your internet.
Review Mobile App Permissions
Mobile apps request permissions to access some data, apps, and functions. While some applications cannot work without these permissions, others use the data to profile you for marketing purposes.
Review app permissions to reduce spying and enhance your online privacy. If you suspect a particular app doesn’t need access to specific data, revoke it. You can also replace it with another option that gives you more control.
Protect Your Conversations
Your chats with loved ones and colleagues may contain personal details. Secure this information by using encrypted messaging apps. These will ensure that only you and the recipient can read the conversation.
Here are more tips for securing your chats:
Install a security app Avoid phishing links Only use legitimate apps from your phone’s app store
Public Wi-Fi networks don’t encrypt traffic, allowing other parties to spy on your activities. Avoid such networks and switch off your devices’ Wi-Fi to avoid automatic connections. If you must use a public network, avoid transmitting sensitive data and get proxies to encrypt your connection.
Use Secure Search Engines
Many users select specific web browsers due to unique features or familiarity. Before using a search engine, read its reviews and check the online privacy features to ensure the tool is secure.
Private browsing reduces the data footprint linked to your account by not tracking your activities. When looking for a search engine to increase online privacy, prioritize one with this feature.
Disable Lock Screen Notifications
Lock screen notifications are convenient and can improve your battery life. However, they might reveal private information to malicious parties. Disable this feature on your phone and opt for app icon badges at the top of your screen. This way, you won’t miss out on any notifications.
Enhance Your Online Privacy
Your devices can limit online privacy if you don’t take the proper measures. Protect your information using security apps, encrypted messaging, and complex passwords. Moreover, take advantage of additional security solutions, like proxies and private browsers.


With President Trump’s pick, Mick Mulvaney, remaining as the Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the CFPB has filed a motion asking the United States District Court for the District of Kansas to extend briefing deadlines on a motion to dismiss filed in
CFPB v. Golden Valley Lending, Inc., et al., No. 2:17-cv-02521. The Court granted the extension.
The CFPB “s[ought] additional time to consult with new leadership before filing its briefs,” given the “recent leadership changes at the Bureau.” This could prove to be a significant development as the change in administrations has led to delays in other cases, wherein an agency has had to reconsider its posture in litigation under the priorities of new leadership. Commentators have anticipated a less aggressive CFPB under Acting Directory Mulvaney than under outgoing Director Richard Cordray, an appointee of President Obama.
Still, an opposition filed by Golden Valley Lending stated that “the Bureau has indicated to Defendants that it does not expect to change its position in any way,” and it will remain to be seen if or how the CFPB changes its posture under Mulvaney’s leadership.
We will continue to monitor the case for further developments.


The computational science and engineering (CSE) community faces an extremely challenging period. Computer architecture changes require new software design and implementation strategies, including significant refactoring of existing code. Reproducibility demands require more rigor across the entire software endeavor. Code coupling requires aggregate team interactions including integration of software processes and practices. These challenges demand large investments in scientific software development and improved practices. Focusing on improved developer productivity and software sustainability is both urgent and essential. This tutorial will provide information on software practices, processes, and tools with the goals of improving the productivity of CSE software developers and increasing the sustainability of software artifacts. Topics include agile methodologies, collaboration via git, scientific software design, testing, and refactoring, continuous integration, and reproducibility. Hands-on homework will be available to reinforce the presentations.


It is the third holiday season where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are still reeling with the lasting impacts of the pandemic. From global supply chain disruptions to labor shortages and now inflation, this time of year has certainly caused challenges for U.S. businesses. However, the past three years have also resulted in some unexpected opportunities for SMEs, such as the dramatic increase in online shopping and e-commerce activity.
To gain insight into SME expectations for this holiday season as well as their outlook for 2023, DHL conducted a survey of U.S. SMEs. Overall, the findings suggest that while challenges persist, a majority of SMEs are still optimistic about the holiday season and the global trade market going into 2023.
Here are the key findings, compiled from the nearly 2,000 responses:
Supply chain is the top challenge, but inflation is a close second. When asked about expected business challenges this holiday season, 46% of respondents said supply chain delays were their biggest concern followed closely by inflation, which nearly doubled from last year with 35% saying it was their biggest concern in 2021. Significant changes to YOY holiday sales are expected. Half of the respondents expect either significant increases or significant decreases to their business’ 2022 holiday sales compared to the 2021 holiday season. 27% expect a significant YOY increase while 23% expect a significant decrease. And despite inflation, 40% expect no significant change. Inflation pressures are being passed down to consumers. To offset rising inflation, 60% said their biggest priority was raising the prices of their products or services. Furthermore, 78% of respondents have increased their product pricing due to inflation:
17% have increased their pricing by over 20%
22% have increased their pricing by 11-20% And 39% have increased their pricing by 39% The 2023 outlook is global . When asked what they think will be most beneficial to their business in 2023, almost half (45%) of respondents said expanding globally. Despite global trade challenges, SMEs are optimistic for expansion into new trade markets and are eager to reach new international consumers. 30% expect the Inflation Reduction Act will be most beneficial to their business in 2023. Business owners are willing to be Santa for success. All the SME respondents said they were willing to go to great lengths for a successful holiday season.
44% said they would volunteer as Santa at the mall if it meant their business would exceed their holiday sales goals
21% would live in the Grinch’s cave 21% would spend Christmas week in the airport 14% would dress as an elf for a year
Working with an experienced logistics partner, like DHL, during peak season can help companies navigate the challenges and uncover new opportunities. DHL is dedicated to working closely with companies, and to creating custom-shipping solutions so they can begin or continue to expand their businesses beyond the U.S. borders.
See here for the full survey results. Follow @DHLUS on Twitter and Instagram for timely information and updates.
The post New DHL Report: Business Owners Optimistic for 2022 Holiday Season and Global Trade Market appeared first on goglobal.dhl-usa.com.


Lofgren, J., Miller, A. L., Shan Lee, C. C. et al. 2018. Analgesics promote welfare and sustain tumour growth in orthotopic 4T1 and B16 mouse cancer models. Laboratory Animals 52(4), 351-364.
Murine orthotopic cancer models often require surgery, potentially causing pain or distress. However, analgesics are often withheld because they may alter tumour development. Two orthotopically implanted cancers were investigated in mice pre-treated with meloxicam (10 mg/kg), buprenorphine (0.2 mg/kg) or saline (1 ml/kg). Tumours were imaged and welfare was assessed using body weight, behaviour and nociceptive responses. In study 1, BALB/c mice were inoculated with 4T1 mammary carcinoma or saline during surgery or anaesthesia. As pre-treatment with a single buprenorphine dose appeared beneficial to cancer growth consistency, a second cohort of mice additionally received saline or buprenorphine at 12 and 24 h. Surgery resulted in increased mammary tumour growth and lung metastases. These unwanted effects were lessened by buprenorphine pre-treatment, especially when given repeatedly. Mammary tumour-bearing mice became less active and nociceptive thresholds declined over time, indicating some discomfort as tumours grew. In study 2, C57BL/6 mice received B16 melanoma. This non-surgical model was used to determine whether meloxicam or buprenorphine affected cancer seeding of the lungs. While meloxicam reduced B16 lung seeding, buprenorphine did not. Mechanical thresholds decreased as cancer developed in mice bearing melanoma, but the magnitude of this was insufficient to conclude that there were any significant welfare concerns. This study highlights the scientific value in utilising non-surgical models, where possible. When surgery must be performed at the time of tumour inoculation, the effects of this should be controlled with appropriate analgesics to enhance the value and possibly translation of the research.


As a homeowner, keeping your roof in excellent condition is essential. The roof protects the structure of your house, your family, and your belongings from the elements. Here are a few helpful tips for roof maintenance to protect your investment. Roof Maintenance:...
Cracks and stuck doors are seemingly minor issues that can indicate structural problems in your home. They could be due to structural damage in your home. Here are some signs to know if your house is at risk of structural damage. Signs of Structural Problems in Your...


What are the differences between ferrous and non-ferrous metals? Ferrous metals contain iron, while non-ferrous metals do not. Non-ferrous metals are typically lighter and more corrosion-resistant than ferrous metals. They are also more expensive, making them a popular choice for jewelry and other decorative items. Ferrous metals are stronger but less corrosion-resistant than non-ferrous metals, making them ideal for industrial applications.
What are Ferrous Metals?
Ferrous metals are those that contain iron. This is in contrast to non-ferrous metals, which do not contain iron. Ferrous metals are widely used in a variety of industries due to their strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion. Some of the most common ferrous metals include cast iron, carbon steel, and tool steel. Ferrous metals can be found in a variety of everyday objects, from bicycles and cars to bridges and buildings. In addition to their many uses, ferrous metals are also recyclable, making them an environmentally friendly choice.
What are Non-ferrous Metals?
Non-ferrous metals are a type of metal that does not contain iron. They are often used in manufacturing and construction because they are less likely to corrode than ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals can be either base metals or precious metals. Base metals include copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, and nickel. They are typically less expensive than precious metals and are more commonly used in industry. Precious metals include gold, silver, and platinum. They are more valuable than base metals and are often used in jewelry and coins. Non-ferrous metals are an important part of the manufacturing process, and their unique properties make them essential for a variety of applications.
Differences between Ferrous Metals and Non-ferrous Metals Ferrous metals are those that contain iron, while non-ferrous metals do not. Ferrous metals are magnetic and highly corrosion-resistant, making them ideal for applications such as construction and shipbuilding. Non-ferrous metals, on the other hand, are non-magnetic and have lower corrosion resistance. However, they are often lighter than ferrous metals and have better electrical and thermal conductivity. As a result, non-ferrous metals are often used in applications where weight or conductivity is a concern, such as in electronics or automotive manufacturing. The choice of metal for a given application depends on a number of factors, including strength, weight, conductivity, and resistance to corrosion. Conclusion
Ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals are both important in the manufacturing industry. Understanding the differences between them is key to producing quality products. Non-ferrous metals are typically used in electronics, while ferrous metals are commonly found in construction materials.


Spine stabilization upon spinal cord injury (SCI) is a standard procedure in clinical practice, but rarely employed in experimental models. Moreover, the application of biodegradable biomaterials for this would come as an advantage as it would eliminate the presence of a nondegradable prosthesis within the vertebral bone. Therefore, in the present work, we propose the use of a new biodegradable device specifically developed for spine stabilization in a rat model of SCI. A 3D scaffold based on a blend of starch with polycaprolactone was implanted, replacing delaminated vertebra, in male Wistar rats with a T8-T9 spinal hemisection. The impact of…
Peripheral mineralization of a 3D biodegradable tubular construct as a way to enhance guidance stabilization in spinal cord injury regeneration
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) present a major challenge to therapeutic development due to its complexity. Combinatorial approaches using biodegradable polymers that can simultaneously provide a tissue scaffold, a cell vehicle, and a reservoir for sustained drug delivery have shown very promising results. In our previous studies we have developed a novel hybrid system consisting of starch/poly-e-caprolactone (SPCL) semi-rigid tubular porous structure, based on a rapid prototyping technology, filled by a gellan gum hydrogel concentric core for the regeneration within spinal-cord injury sites. In the present work we intend to promote enhanced osteointegration on these systems by pre-mineralizing specifically the external…
Interactions between Schwann and olfactory ensheathing cells with a starch/polycaprolactone scaffold aimed at spinal cord injury repair
Spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a major world health problem. Therefore it is urgent to develop novel strategies that can specifically target it. We have previously shown that the implantation of starch-based scaffolds (SPCL) aimed for spine stabilization on SCI animals leads to motor skills improvements. Therefore, we hypothesize that the combination of these scaffolds with relevant cell populations for SCI repair will, most likely, lead to further improvements. Therefore, in this work, the ability of SPCL scaffolds to support the 3D culture of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and Schwann cells (SCs) was studied and characterized. The results demonstrate for…
Development and Characterization of a Novel Hybrid Tissue Engineering-Based Scaffold for Spinal Cord Injury Repair
Spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a significant health and social problem, and therefore it is vital to develop novel strategies that can specifically target it. In this context, the objective of the present work was to develop a new range of three-dimensional (3D) tubular structures aimed at inducing the regeneration within SCI sites. Up to six different 3D tubular structures were initially developed by rapid prototyping: 3D bioplotting–based on a biodegradable blend of starch. These structures were then further complemented by injecting Gellan Gum, a polysaccharide-based hydrogel, in the central area of structures. The mechanical properties of these structures were…


School-aged children in the United States often spend a great deal of time with educators; some may ultimately spend more time with teachers and counselors than they do with their parents. As such, parents are forced into a position that they must trust that these educators will notify them if they notice concerning behavior, such as the expression of suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, a wrongful death lawsuit recently filed in California accuses a school district, counselor and principal of negligence in the events leading up to a 12-year-old girl’s suicide.
Reports indicate that the girl texted a friend, indicating that she intended to kill herself in May 2018. The friend reportedly showed the text to a teacher who referred the matter to the principal. The principal then referred the matter to a school counselor. The parents of the 12-year-old girl claim that the counselor met with her once, asked her to fill out a questionnaire but did not follow up with her.
According to reports, both state and school policy require educators to notify parents if their child expresses suicidal thoughts. Had they been notified, the girls parents claim they could have sought counseling for her. They believe that if the appropriate steps had been followed, their daughter’s death could have been prevented.
Unfortunately, a California family is left facing life without their daughter, allegedly as a result of negligence. Many people who have lost a loved one due to such inaction choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit against those believed to be responsible. While a successfully presented case will do little to lessen their grief, a monetary award can reduce the stress they may experience over their ability to meet their financial responsibilities, allowing them to focus on confronting the tragedy that occurred.


Description FAQs
While it is not recommended to eat CBD gummies that are expired, there is nothing inherently dangerous about them, as long as they’ve been stored properly. However, they will likely be far less effective.
Among the numerous pros behind CBD gummies, the main con is that they aren’t the fastest-acting, especially when you compare them to inhalable products like vapes. However, you can expect the overall effects of CBD gummies to last longer as a result.
There is currently not enough evidence supporting the claim that CBD gummies can treat or cure anxiety.
Typically, CBD gummies take around 30-60 minutes before they hit the bloodstream.
While CBD gummies won’t make you feel high, many users report feeling a sense of calm and focus.
While it doesn’t appear that any amount of CBD can produce a lethal effect, high doses may cause some adverse side effects, including nausea, dizziness, constipation, and dry mouth.


The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO):
(WASHINGTON) — The lethality and survivability of the littoral combat ship (LCS) is still largely unproven, six years after delivery of the lead ships. LCS was designed with reduced requirements as compared to other surface combatants, and the Navy has since lowered several survivability and lethality requirements and removed several design features — making the ship both less survivable in its expected threat environments and less lethal than initially planned. The Navy is compensating for this by redefining how it plans to operate the ships.
In 2014, the Navy conducted its first operational test of an early increment of the surface warfare mission package on a Freedom-variant LCS, demonstrating that LCS could meet an interim lethality requirement. The Navy declared LCS operationally effective. However, the Navy's test report stated that the ship did not meet some key requirements. Further, the Department of Defense's director of operational test and evaluation has stated that there is insufficient data to provide statistical confidence that LCS can meet its lethality requirements in future testing or operations, and further testing is needed to demonstrate both variants can meet requirements in varied threat environments.
The Navy also has not yet demonstrated that LCS will achieve its survivability requirements, and does not plan to complete survivability assessments until 2018 — after more than 24 ships are either in the fleet or under construction. The Navy has identified unknowns related to the use of aluminum and the hull of the Independence variant, and plans to conduct testing in these areas in 2015 and 2016. However, the Navy does not plan to fully determine how the Independence variant will react to an underwater explosion. This variant also sustained some damage in a trial in rough sea conditions, but the Navy is still assessing the cause and severity of the damage and GAO has not been provided with a copy of the test results. Results from air defense and cybersecurity testing also indicate concerns, but specific details are classified.
In February 2014 the former secretary of defense directed the Navy to assess options for a small surface combatant with more survivability and combat capability than LCS. The Navy conducted a study and recommended modifying the LCS to add additional survivability and lethality features. After approving the Navy's recommendation, the former secretary of defense directed the Navy to submit a new acquisition strategy for a modified LCS for his approval. He also directed the Navy to assess the cost and feasibility of backfitting lethality and survivability enhancements on current LCS. Nevertheless, the Navy has established a new frigate program office to manage this program, and the Navy has requested $1.4 billion for three LCS in the fiscal year 2016 president's budget, even though it is clear that the current ships fall short of identified survivability and lethality needs. GAO has an ongoing review of the Navy's small surface combatant study and future plans for the LCS program.
This report is a public version of a classified report issued in July 2015. Throughout this report, GAO has indicated where information has been omitted or redacted due to security considerations. All information in this report reflects information current as of July 2015 to be consistent with the timeframe of the classified report.
Why GAO did this study
GAO has reported extensively on LCS — an over $34 billion Navy program (in 2010 dollars) consisting of two different ships and interchangeable mission packages. In February 2014, the secretary of defense, citing survivability concerns, directed the Navy to assess design alternatives for a possible LCS replacement.
House and Senate reports for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 included a provision for GAO to analyze LCS survivability. Based on congressional interest, GAO also examined lethality. This report examines (1) the extent to which LCS survivability and lethality requirements are aligned with the ship's threat environments and if they have changed, (2 and 3) and if LCS meets its current requirements. GAO also (4) assessed recent decisions pertaining to the Navy's plans to address the secretary of defense's concerns. GAO analyzed relevant documents and interviewed Navy officials.
What GAO recommends
GAO suggests Congress delay funding for fiscal year 2016 LCS until the Navy submits a completed rough water trials report, acquisition strategy, and backfit plan; and consider not fully funding some or all LCS procurement pending analysis of these documents and the final survivability assessments. GAO also recommends several actions for DOD. The department concurred with two recommendations and partially concurred with two others, but did not concur with soliciting an independent technical assessment of the Independence variant. GAO continues to believe that such an independent assessment is warranted.
To view the complete report, click here.


This study was designed to test whether the Oregon THINK FIRST-Head and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program, developed for the high school audience and previously shown to have a beneficial effect, would have the same effect on students in middle school. During the spring of 1989, four schools (two high schools and two middle schools) participated. Two weeks before and after the presentation of the THINK FIRST program, 830 student questionnaires were distributed in classrooms. Questionnaire items were designed to measure knowledge, attitude, behavior, and demographic features. There was a significant difference between high school and middle school students on pretest knowledge (P = 0.0001). The average knowledge increase among all students was 0.81 correct responses (95% confidence interval: +/- 0.22) among 15 questions. The increment in knowledge did not differ significantly (P = 0.37) between high school and middle school students. One-way analysis of variance revealed no significant differences in pretest knowledge or knowledge increase associated with membership in Students Against Drunk Driving or acquaintance with someone having sustained a head or spinal cord injury. After the program, students were more likely to believe that there were actions they could take to keep from getting injured (P less than 0.0001). However, there was no change in self-reported seat belt use and most students reported that they "never" wore a bike helmet. The findings suggest that the THINK FIRST program is appropriate and beneficial for viewing by middle school-aged students.


Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper ruled on Monday that the Arizona state legislature’s ban on mask mandates in the state is a violation of the Arizona constitution.
In her ruling, Cooper issued an injunction against the measure, which will prevent the ban from taking effect in public schools throughout the state.
Specifically, Cooper’s decision takes aim at the process by which state lawmakers passed the sweeping measure. Legislators packed the ban on mask mandate and other laws in the state budget.
Therefore, the broad new policies included into the spending bill, like the ban on mask mandates, will be unenforceable, as they were scheduled to go into place on Wednesday.
However, Arizona school districts have seemingly ignored the state law since it passed the legislature. Both Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) and Phoenix Union High School District (PXU), among multiple other districts, have announced that all students and staff must wear a mask during the school year.
Governor Doug Ducey has remained steadfast in his opposition to COVID-19 mandates. After the actions by the school districts, Ducey restated his opposition, focusing on the laws passed in the budget.
“Arizona does not allow mask mandates, vaccine mandates, vaccine passports or discrimination in schools based on who is or isn’t vaccinated. We’ve passed all of this into law, and it will not change,” Ducey said.
Furthermore, the governor pledged to withhold funds from schools that elect to enact a mask mandate and created a relief program that “will provide choice for parents who are facing financial and educational barriers due to unnecessary closures and school mandates and that are not in compliance with the provisions set forth in state law.”
Cooper’s ruling will likely be appealed, as her decision not only affects the ban on mask mandate, but a popular law making process among state legislators.
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Abstract Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an effective and safe therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD). This study assessed quality of life (QOL) and functional status outcomes for depressed patients after an acute course of TMS. Methods: Forty-two, U.S.-based, clinical TMS practice sites treated 307 outpatients with a primary diagnosis of MDD and persistent symptoms despite prior adequate antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Treatment parameters were based on individual clinical considerations and followed the labeled procedures for use of the approved TMS device. Patient self-reported QOL outcomes included change in the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the EuroQol 5-Dimensions (EQ-5D) ratings from baseline to end of the acute treatment phase. Results: Statistically significant improvement in functional status on a broad range of mental health and physical health domains was observed on the SF-36 following acute TMS treatment. Similarly, statistically significant improvement in patient-reported QOL was observed on all domains of the EQ-5D and on the General Health Perception and Health Index scores. Improvement on these measures was observed across the entire range of baseline depression symptom severity. Conclusion: These data confirm that TMS is effective in the acute treatment of MDD in routine clinical practice settings. This symptom benefit is accompanied by statistically and clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported QOL and functional status outcomes.


NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. —
Vivera is pleased to announce the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a third U.S. Patent, No. 11,450,420, for ZICOH, securing the device’s rights as a
Secure Smart Dosing System with Automated Delivery, Measurement, and Management for Pills.
With a goal to end prescription drug misuse while improving patient prescription adherence, ZICOH is a dose-controlled, intelligent, electronic drug delivery device that integrates with ZICOH Connect, a synchronized, cloud-based software and solution as a service (SolaaS). With strong data organization and AI capabilities, ZICOH and ZICOH Connect are the first connected device and system of their kind, designed to collect and aggregate real-time prescribing data and generate actionable insights to facilitate prescription medication adherence, oversight, and compliance.
This third-issued patent differs from the device’s two previously issued patents in that it specifically pertains to the dispensing of pills and includes tablets and capsules. The two previously issued USPTO patents granted to Vivera for ZICOH secure the device’s rights as a secure, smart liquid and inhaler delivery device with automated dose delivery, measurement, and management.
ZICOH was initially developed as a tool to help stop the multi-billion-dollar opioid crisis and end addiction by preventing prescription medication misuse. Since then, it has evolved to be compatible with medications used for any indication.
“Securing this third patent is a major achievement,” said Paul Edalat, CEO and Chairman of Vivera. “It allows ZICOH to dispense any pill, positioning and securing the device as a solution for the entire U.S. prescription pill market.”
In 2021, approximately 4.69 billion prescriptions were dispensed in the U.S., with nearly $576.9 billion spent on medications—a number expected to grow to $635 billion by 2025. The majority of these medications are prescribed in pill form.
Vivera’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Mehdi Hatamian, Ph.D., added, “This newly issued patent, focusing on delivering tablets and capsules, completes and complements ZICOH’s intellectual property portfolio in its ability to deliver medications in multiple formats. This third patent expands ZICOH’s applications and markets. ZICOH isn’t only for prescription opioids; it can be used to dispense any medication.”
"ZICOH has always been a smart solution poised to revolutionize prescription drug delivery," said Dr. Stephen J. McColgan, Chief Medical Officer of Vivera. “Now, with extended coverage from the device’s newest issued patent, ZICOH will enable a more secure method of delivery for the most commonly prescribed types of medications."
The Company looks forward to continuing to expand ZICOH’s global intellectual property portfolio with several additional patents in preparation, pending, and published.
Vivera Pharmaceuticals is an innovative, science-driven pharmaceutical company located in Southern California. The Company has global exclusivity to license the patented and patent-pending TABMELT sublingual drug delivery system for pharmaceutical use and holds its own issued patents on ZICOH, a smart dose-controlled electronic medical device. The Company has also received a Notice of Allowance for its portable telemedicine station, MDZone. With multiple divisions, including its pharmaceutical, neurosciences, medical technology, biosciences, and advanced diagnostics divisions, Vivera Pharmaceuticals is vertically integrated with patented technology, manufacturing capabilities, and distribution for its products.


In recent years, the problem triad of population, environment and development has been joined by the added element of consumption, with a consequent boom in studies on sustainable consumption. This study provides a holistic and quantitative overview of these studies, aiming to track the evolution of research on sustainable consumption, and identify the key authors and co-authorship network. Using the bibliometric method and network analysis, this study traces the development of the research themes at hand, and the research network concerned with them, through the analysis of core literature and journals dated 1995–2014. The findings highlight that the research on sustainable consumption can be divided into two periods. These findings clearly illustrate that sustainable consumption has evolved from being a single practice-oriented research topic into diverse topics studied in a systematized manner, involving the key factors of sustainability, consumption behavior, energy utilization and environmental impact.
Link zur Publikation


The Role of Banks in SME Finance Abstract
Banks play a crucial role for the financing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs represent a large fraction of all firms in many economies and contribute significantly to employment and growth. But, SMEs are more informationally opaque, more risky, more financially constrained, and more bank-dependent than large firms, which creates serious challenges in SME finance. In this inaugural address, I focus on lending technologies to cope with key challenges in SME finance. I present evidence from two recent empirical studies. The first conclusion is that relationship lending works. Applying meta-analysis in a cross-country context, we show that, on average, borrowers benefit from relationship lending. SMEs obtain more credit and/or lower loan rates under relationship lending. Furthermore, bank competition makes benefits for borrowers more likely. The second conclusion is that trade credit has limited scope to replace bank debt when the latter is subject to a shock. SMEs in Europe have countered a shock to their bank debt to some extent with trade credit. However, substitution has become increasingly difficult during the financial crisis and was only possible for a subset of firms: the ones with better credit quality and intermediate financial constraints. Overall, a comprehensive understanding of lending technologies such as relationship lending and trade credit is critical for lenders, borrowers, and policymakers to ensure the proper functioning of SME finance


Public sector agencies face many challenges ahead in the push to adopt multi-cloud networking. The top challenges for public sector agencies include maintaining reliability when managing workloads across different cloud providers and providing a secure interconnection of workloads hosted across multiple providers — as highlighted in Cloud Smart for federal and Secure Cloud Computing Architecture (SCCA) for DoD.
In this webinar, you'll discover the latest multi-cloud networking trends and challenges in the public sector. You’ll also learn how to mitigate performance and security risks — including recommendations on federal IT modernization for prioritizing data-level protections and fully leveraging modern virtualized technologies.
Keys to simplifying complexity within multi-cloud networking
Why a private global network is important to public sector agencies
Future visions around a virtual distributed cloud architecture
Michael Coleman Sr. Solutions Architect F5
Matt Howell Solutions Engineer F5
Christina Sinclair Territory Account Manager F5


Despite increased awareness and a prosocial effort to destigmatize mental illness, suicide remains the
tenth leading cause of death in America. But for individuals between ages 10-34, it ranks as the second leading cause.
Suicide is a complex and largely misunderstood issue. In many ways, it is still taboo and frightening, an epidemic that people hesitate to address. And yet, learning the subtle signs of suicidal behavior may prevent more deaths from occurring. Let's get into what you should know.
Sudden Positive Changes in Mood
When people think about suicide, they often imagine the
persistent state of depression and helplessness. They typically think about someone who is utterly riddled with despair.
But this isn't always the case. A sudden brightening in mood may indicate suicidal plans. Why? Because the person may find a sense of peace (or even joy) in believing that their pain has an end date.
Some people may mistake this change in mood as a sudden spurt of happiness. However, happiness isn't always static, and it isn't always honest. Many times, people fake being happy if they feel concerned that loved ones are "onto them." They will put on a good face to avoid being questioned by others.
Lack of Interest in Usual Hobbies or Relationships Anhedonia often accompanies suicidal behavior. Anhedonia refers to losing the ability to experience joy or pleasure. The world doesn't necessarily feel sad, but it can feel incredibly blah.
People with anhedonia may find it difficult to move throughout their normal routine. Things feel meaningless. Relationships seem pointless. The days bleed into one another.
Anhedonia is a common symptom of depression, but it can also correspond with PTSD, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. If someone doesn't see the legitimate purpose of life, they may feel more motivated to end it.
This lack of interest can happen suddenly or gradually. It depends on your loved one's condition and if they are receiving treatment. Unfortunately, if untreated, this symptom can worsen over time.
Anhedonia often robs people from feeling motivated to practice self-care. And because they aren't practicing self-care, they continue feeling upset or depressed. As you can see, this pattern can become a vicious, self-fulfilling cycle.
A Decline in Physical Appearance
Has your well-dressed friend started showing up wearing sloppy clothes? Does your loved one seem to be forgoing brushing their teeth or showering?
If someone feels suicidal, they might feel so focused on basic survival that they start neglecting their outward appearance. These changes may be subtle- some slight weight gain or loss, changes in clothes, a bit of a decline in hygiene habits.
That said, most people take some pride in their appearance. They care how other people perceive them. If your loved one isn't taking care of themselves- and doesn't seem to mind what anyone else thinks- this could be a red flag.
Increased Substance Use
Drinking or using drugs more frequently often indicates some form of psychological distress. These substances provide a numbing effect- they allow people to temporarily "check out" from their pain.
In some cases, the increased substance may indicate suicidal behavior. Moreover, drugs and alcohol also impair judgment and impulse control. This means someone is more likely to engage in reckless decisions, which can lead to dangerous, life-threatening consequences.
Impulsive Decisions
They're getting married! They're going to travel the world with just a backpack. They're quitting their job without having another opportunity lined up! They just spent all their money gambling!
Impulsivity isn't always a sign of suicidal behavior, but it can suggest some concern. Most people try to act responsibly because they don't want to face backlash or unwanted consequences. In other words, they want to keep things running safely and smoothly.
But if death feels imminent, the individual may feel like they have nothing to lose. They already feel like they're living on borrowed time, so they might overlook the significant risks associated with their behavior.
Final Thoughts on Recognizing Subtle Warning Signs of Suicidal Behavior
In some cases, suicidal plans can be quite obvious. Your loved one makes blatant comments about wanting to hurt themselves. They willingly share their preoccupation with death or dying. They discuss having made attempts in the past.
But most of the time, suicide is far more covert. People don't want to be a burden. They don't want to make things more difficult for other people. That's why understanding these subtle warning signs is so important.
While it's not your job to prevent suicide, you can become a mental health ally. You can learn how to support your loved one with compassion, empathy, and resources for appropriate treatment.
If you suspect someone you love is struggling, reach out. At The Mental Health House, we are here to help you and your loved ones.
Contact us today to learn more.


How do teachers influence students’ opportunities to connect with themselves as learners on a deep level? Coach and NBCT Elizabeth Stein provides tips to shift away from a behaviorist pedagogy and toward strategies that have students actively seeking knowledge and strengthening skills.
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"Can you send me a proposal?"
Sellers love to hear these six words from buyers. Once you submit a proposal, you can move forward to the win.
While a good proposal summarizes what you've already discussed and agreed to, a proposal is, at its core, a persuasive document that communicates to buyers why they should buy, and why they should buy from
you.
8 Key Components of a Successful Sales Proposal The Right Time to Write a Proposal
Let's assume you had an initial call with a buyer. You've uncovered need and they're impressed with your solution. At the end of the call they say,
"This was great. Can you send me a proposal?" This might be what you want to hear, but if you know you need another hour or two to ask more questions and talk through different approaches, you can't jump the gun.
It's a big mistake to send a proposal prematurely. You have a better chance of winning the sale if you resist the temptation and instead request a second meeting. This allows you to get the information needed to craft the right solution and thus drive the greatest buyer value.
A proposal should be a summary of what you've already discussed, including:
Your understanding of the buyer's needs Your approach to solving their needs Realistic expectations for what can be achieved Their willingness to commit to a decision in a specific time frame and invest the appropriate amount A compelling reason to buy—and buy from you What it will take in terms of time, money, and effort
If you haven't discussed each of these in full, you're writing a proposal too soon. Make sure you're on track by avoiding these common proposal mistakes.
How to Write a Proposal: 8 Key Components
A great proposal includes eight key sections. In this video, John Doerr, President of RAIN Group, reviews the importance of these components.
Depending on the situation, you may decide a specific proposal doesn't need to have all eight, but you should have a good reason if you choose to exclude one.
Your Understanding of the Buyer's Needs
Begin your proposal by outlining your understanding of the buyer's needs. This can be in prose or bullets, but your goal is to demonstrate that you "get it." Do this by presenting the buyer's perspective and their current state, and reference conversations you've had in the past using words they've used to describe their challenges.
This reminds the buyer why they should take action and sets the table for what you and your solution will help them achieve.
Current State and Future State
In a bulleted list, outline the buyer's current state (summarized from above) and contrast with their possible future state. What is the New Reality you will help the buyer achieve? How will you address each of their current needs?
This simple image should be extremely impactful for the buyer to see the difference of where they are versus where they could be (with your help).
Your Solution
This is where you outline how your solution will get your buyer from where they are to where they want to be. Provide as much or as little detail as required based on the buyer’s persona and buying process. Include details in an appendix if needed.
This section should focus on how you'll get the buyer from their current state to the outlined New Reality.
The Impact Case
Communicate the impact visually. Will your solution help them increase revenue, reduce costs, capture market share, increase productivity, etc.? As much as possible, quantify the impact for what you can achieve.
The best way to do this is to ask specific, impact-focused questions during your sales conversations. This will ensure you're equipped with the information you need to develop the impact case.
Download our guide,
50 Powerful Sales Questions, for specific questions you can ask to develop the impact case. Substantiation
Buyers must not only see your solution, but also believe it can work for them. The more you can substantiate your claims, the better chance you have of winning the sale.
In your proposals, include relevant case studies, industry experience, representative results, team experience (e.g., bios), etc. It helps to think of substantiation in three key areas:
Your company:Show your company's track record and why your company is the right fit. Your people:Demonstrate how your team is the right team for them. Your offerings:Show how you will deliver on your promises and do it better than the competition.
Each of these should be addressed in your conversations first, then reinforced in your proposal.
Investment Schedule
Provide pricing. You may choose to divide the project and fees into phases or provide different price/solution offerings. Often you can provide different options. If so, consider providing a best option, a better option, and a good option. If you do, do so in this order.
Agreement
Always include a place for the buyer to sign. Sounds basic, but we've seen proposals without a signature page. Be sure to include any terms and conditions as well.
Appendix
This is where you can include any core "about us" information for your company, along with accompanying details on your solutions.
Does every proposal need to include every section? No. At the end of a well-run sales process, it may be as simple as putting together a one-or two-page statement of work. If you're working with a repeat customer, it's very likely this is all you need. However, it's important to think about each of these sections, especially in competitive situations with new customers.
4 Questions Answered by Your Proposal
After reviewing your proposal, buyers should be able to answer the 4 Whys:
Why Act?Communicate the value. Why Now?Communicate the urgency. Why Us?Communicate your differentiation. Why Trust?Communicate why it will work and that's it's worth the risk.
Submit a proposal at the right time and include the eight components above to put yourself in the best position to win the sale.


Finding our way through phenotypes. Jan 1, 2015
Despite a large and multifaceted effort to understand the vast landscape of phenotypic data, their current form inhibits productive data analysis. The lack of a community-wide, consensus-based, human- and machine-interpretable language for describing phenotypes and their genomic and environmental contexts is perhaps the most pressing scientific bottleneck to integration across many key fields in biology, including genomics, systems biology, development, medicine, evolution, ecology, and systematics. Here we survey the current phenomics landscape, including data resources and handling, and the progress that has been made to accurately capture relevant data descriptions for phenotypes. We present an example of the kind of integration across domains that computable phenotypes would enable, and we call upon the broader biology community, publishers, and relevant funding agencies to support efforts to surmount today’s data barriers and facilitate analytical reproducibility.


From collecting and handling the waste to disposing it in an effective manner, equipment play a crucial role. They are also used for recycling or sorting waste materials. With increasing importance of waste management, the demand for equipment is rising sharply. Witnessing this change, we have come up with this special issue focusing on this market. The cover story of this issue features ResposeIndia which has prioritized process design and process engineering over equipment design, ensuring that its highly customized recycling plant is better suited to the customer. Furthermore, the... >>More
A.K. Tyagi, CMD, Nuberg Engineering
Rajendra Agarwal, Managing Director, Donear Industries
K. S. Sudhakaran, Chairman & Managing Director, SANPAR Industries India
Dr. Nithyanandan Devaraaj, CEO – Foundries, CRI Group
Shravan Charya, Founder & CEO, SocioLadder


The Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology (AIFST) will virtually present the 2022 Food Microbiology Conference on Tuesday 5 April.
Across the food supply chain, reducing the burden of food borne illness and harnessing the potential of microorganisms are vital issues for everyone involved. This conference will speak to the challenges, complexity, and opportunities posed by microorganisms in the food supply.
AIFST seeks to raise the profile of food microbiology and the importance of ongoing research and development activities.
The conference will offer a content-rich, day-long program focusing on the Australian food safety landscape.
The program hosts a selection of speakers addressing topics from the burden of food borne illness to factors impacting the supply of safe and trusted food. Plus, there will be a series of moderated question and answer sessions where attendees can engage with the speakers.
AIFST’s goal is to deliver a professionally rewarding experience which will provide a platform to make professional contacts and takeaways that will elevate attendees’ knowledge of current issues in food microbiology.
The 2022 Food Microbiology Conference will be of interest and relevance to personnel across the entire food industry, as well as food regulators, academics, researchers and government officials.
To register and for further details, visit the AIFST event webpage here.


Okay, so I want you to believe there’s a reason to continue reading. I claim that use of the word “belief” or “believe” is rather loose.
Is there a common definition of “belief” that can be applied to all of these propositions?
I believe the sun will rise tomorrow. I believe I’ll order the chicken. I believe women are equal to men. I believe 2+2 = 4. I believe you are writing a book about belief. I believe I can make a difference in the world by walking across the country wearing a pink ribbon. I believe Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. I believe our best option is to jump clear of the oncoming train… NOW!! I believe evolution is true. I believe the bible is true. I believe you. Believe me, I know the way! I believe in “Crystal Light” ‘cuz I believe in me!” “Believe in something better” (US Cellular ad campaign, “The Belief Project” circa 2012) Then I saw her face…. Yeah, I’m a believer. “The Monkees”
It’s really very sloppy and messy to treat all of these situations with the same “B” word. The term “belief” gets applied to situations both long and short term; verifiable and unverifiable; opinion vs. fact; real or potential; requiring immediate action, or requiring no action at all.
But perhaps most important of all, the EXPRESSION of a belief… telling others what you believe, professing your “faith”… is too often equated with what you actually DO when you “believe” something.
Professions of belief are made to affect others. Beliefs are acted upon by you, with the intended effect being on you and for you… i.e. getting you where you desire to be.
I recently discovered another person sharing my obsession with belief. Again, that is not surprising… philosophers through the ages have run this race before. But if you’re interested in a detailed philosophical analysis and some similar musings, please see Matthew Rave’s thoughts. (I wanted to say “Ravings” but that would be an injustice.)
So which of these “ARE” beliefs? Well, they all are, if we keep using the existing framework. But, what if…??? What if we try to break free of those constraints and do a little art; a little jazz riff on belief?
What if we reshape what it means, and limit how freely we apply “belief”? What would we find hiding beneath the misclassifications, and equivocations that such a reformulation reveals? What “there” would we find there, to paraphrase Gertrude Stein? What does it mean to “have” a belief? What exactly is involved in “holding” a belief? What is really meant when I say “Yes” after someone asks me, “Do you believe <insert proposition here>?”
Onward. I’d like you to believe it’s worth it. 😉


Join in with 2 hours of Holistic well-being activities led by local Manchester practitioners. Each activity will last 30-35 minutes with a short 5 minute break in between each session. Participants will be asked to keep track of their thoughts and feelings throughout.
Tai Chi class – led by a Manchester-based Tai Chi practitioner.
Group tarot class – led by Manchester-based Tarot Reader.
Group Reiki/crystal healing class – led by Manchester-based Reiki Master.
Connectedness has fast-become an important part of health and well-being. Mostly, we focus on everyday ways of connecting like getting out in nature or talking part in community-oriented activities like volunteering. New social science research at the University of Manchester has explored how people often make helpful connections and build powerful relationships in non-traditional wellbeing spaces, like those provided by holistic therapies. This event will explore the importance of such connections.
This event is suitable for anyone interested in well-being, connectedness, holistic therapies, spirituality/mysticism, meditation, or in complementary and alternative medicines.
Overall, the event aims to engage public audiences in the cutting edge social science research on relationships, health and well-being carried out at The University of Manchester, and to generate new public conversations and perspectives on connectedness in holistic therapies. Through practical hands-on activities, the event will demonstrate how holistic therapies can be a valid and exciting subject of social science research. But also show the importance of making connections with others in a range of spaces, including alternative or holistic ones.
Dr James Hodgson
All people aged 18+
The event is targeted at people who have an existing interest in alternative and complementary medicines, holistic therapy, well-being, and issues of connected-ness and relationships in the context of mental health. The event provides a sociological view point on these practices, which takes them seriously, and as valuable forms of care.
The event may be of interest to or helpful for key workers (responsible for social prescribing) and residents of Manchester interested in what holistic well-being approaches exist in the community.
Due to the inclusion of three examples of holistic well-being activities, the event also offers participants an opportunity to explore and develop their own well-being on the day and to generate a sense of connectedness with others.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/holistic-connections-a-social-sciences-look-at-alternative-therapies-tickets-451662172717


InterQuality drives finance and accounting digital transformation to make frictionless finance operations a reality for your organization. We unlock the true potential of your finance function.
Despite the race to become the most digitally-augmented company on the market, many organizations still faces a range of problems to achieve truly high-performing business operations. What’s more, these same obstacles often lead to an impaired customer and employee experience, inefficient decision-making, reduced speed-to-market, and an inability to keep pace with rapidly changing regulatory environments.
InterQuality can help by: Building a robust digital ecosystem and consulting experience, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions across the F&A value chain Providing business transformation and benchmarking to guide the right digital operating model for your organization Increasing visibility of the service delivery capabilities, which helps to predict issues, avoid bottlenecks, and drive service efficiency Sharing extensive industry expertise in serving key clients across several sectors globally Delivering strong client-centricity and a relationship-driven approach which is appreciated by clients Providing seamless transition and strong support to clients during the global pandemic.
We provide future-ready, tech-backed innovative solutions that transform our clients’ finance functions, and enable the transition to a frictionless enterprise.


Gisela Winckler is a Lamont Research Professor at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory where she also serves as the Associate Director of the Geochemistry Division. She received her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Heidelberg in 1998. She was a researcher at the International Atomic Energy Agency before joining Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in 2001.
Winckler has been a leader in paleoceanography and the interplay of climate change, carbon cycle and aerosols since 2003. As an environmental physicist and isotope geochemist she uses elemental and isotopic analyses (noble gases, U-Th series, cosmogenic and radiogenic isotopes) to unravel processes of climate and environmental change in the oceans and on continents, on timescales ranging from decades to tens of millions of years. Her research uses climate archives such as deep-sea sediments, lake sediments and polar ice cores from Antarctica and Greenland. Her reconstructions of past climates are key to understanding the climate system’s sensitivity to natural variability and anthropogenic perturbations.
Winckler has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers, including in Nature, Science, Nature Geoscience, Science Advances and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Winckler is passionate about mentoring graduate students and postdocs, and a recent recipient of the LDEO Excellence in Mentoring Award. She teaches in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. She has served as the ‘Climate Scientist in Residence’ at Columbia’s Journalism School where she has been involved in developing innovative course material at the interface of journalism, climate science and art. She is deeply engaged in the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) space. She served as the co-chair of the Lamont Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force, and currently co-teaches a seminar on Climate Change, Race and Environmental Justice. More details at wings.ldeo.columbia.edu.


Kóczy’s paper titled “Core-stability over networks with widespread externalities” has been published in
the Annals of Operations Research.
The Covid-19 epidemic highlighted the significance of externalities: contacts with other people affect the chances of getting infected for our entire network. We study endogenous network formation where not only players or pairs but larger coalitions can, cooperatively change the network. We introduce a model for coalitional network stability for networks with widespread externalities. The network function form generalises the partition function form of cooperative games in allowing the network to be taken into account. The recursive core for network function form games generalises the recursive core for such environments. We present two simple examples to illustrate positive and negative externalities. The first is of a favour network and show that the core is nonempty when players must pay transfers to intermediaries; this simple setting also models economic situations such as airline networks. The second models social contacts during an epidemic and finds social bubbles as the solution.
Kóczy, L.Á. Core-stability over networks with widespread externalities. Ann Oper Res (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-022-04669-5


It is well known that waves with frequencies within the forbidden gap inside a crystal are transported only over a limited distance—the Bragg length—before being reflected by Bragg interference. Here, we demonstrate how to send waves much deeper into crystals in an exemplary study of light in two-dimensional silicon photonic crystals. By spatially shaping the wave fronts, the internal energy density—probed via the laterally scattered intensity—is enhanced at a tunable distance away from the front surface. The intensity is up to 100× enhanced compared to random wave fronts, and extends as far as 8× the Bragg length, which agrees with an extended mesoscopic model. We thus report a novel control knob for mesoscopic wave transport that pertains to any kind of waves.


In this podcast episode I’m interviewing
Steven Kennedy, Founder of the PREPARE Foundation and Birthing Dads. Steven is dedicated to helping families thrive from the get go, and aims to prevent perinatal mental health impacts to families by engaging expectant fathers and inspiring greater paternal involvement in maternity care.
Steven tells us about modern birth culture and how the gaps in antenatal education fail to prepare dads. He also highlights how the deep challenges new dads are facing are often overlooked, and contribute significantly to poor mental health outcomes.
Knowing what’s normal in childbirth is crucial for being in the room. However, as Steven explains, men are currently not being prepared adequately, they’re not being included, and often they’re being overlooked. If dads are better prepared, they can support mum better not only in the delivery room, but also during pregnancy and postpartum.
Steven has a wealth of resources for first-time dads to prepare them for birth and beyond, so make sure to check out his websites.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Steven!
Listen to the full episode below:


Augmentir’s connected worker solution not only enables industrial companies to digitize work instructions, checklists, and SOPs, but also allows them to create digital workflows that fully incorporate the frontline workers into the digital thread of their business.
The digital thread represents a connected data flow across a manufacturing enterprise – including people, systems, and machines. Digital transformation efforts that incorporate connected worker solutions help to bridge the gap between the traditionally siloed frontline work processes and the business and IoT systems that drive the business. By incorporating the activities and data from these previously disconnected workers, business processes are accelerated, and this new source of data provides newfound opportunities for innovation and improvement.
Connect with ERP and CRM systems using Augmentir’s API to create a digital thread throughout the organization Integrate with knowledge management systems to support content sharing Use oDATA for simplified integration with reporting tools


Marina Watowich, UW Biology graduate student, and Noah Snyder-Mackler, UW Biology Affiliate Assistant Professor, were featured in
Inverse on their new research revealing a link between natural disasters and aging in monkeys.
Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and other natural disasters, are becoming more and more frequent. These events have also been taking an increasingly grim toll on survivors' mental and physical health — including the non-humans animals that thrive in disaster-stricken areas.
In a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers analyzed changes to genes involved in the immune system in a group of rhesus macaque monkeys (Macaca mulatta) residing on the Puerto Rican island of Cayo Santiago before and after Hurricane Maria devastated the nation.
"We wanted to study aging after Hurricane Maria to see whether we found support, at the molecular level, for this idea that extreme adversity — particularly from natural disasters — can accelerate parts of the aging process," Marina Watowich, lead author on the study and a graduate student in the SMack Lab at the University of Washington, tells Inverse.
They found that adult macaques that lived through Hurricane Maria experienced accelerated aging, showing changes in their DNA corresponding with monkeys two years older than them. When scaled to humans' current average lifespan, that difference in gene expression translates to a whopping seven to eight years of human life.
The changes in DNA correspond with "natural changes in immune gene expression that occur with age," Noah Snyder-Mackler, a co-author on the study and an assistant professor at the Center for Evolution and Medicine at Arizona State University, tells Inverse.